Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I am excited to report that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously to the 3 proposed amendment changes relating to the Code of Fairfax County at the Public Hearing on September 27. As President of Local 2068, I testified during the public hearing, urging the BOS to support these proposed amendment changes.
Specifically, the changes to the code and the subsequent approval by the BOS included the elimination of the sunset to the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) to the Uniformed, Employees’, and Police Officers Retirement Systems thus, allowing the DROP Plan to continue indefinitely past calendar year 2013. For your information, the 5 year DROP and early retirement options are currently under a study. We should know more by the end of the calendar year.
An important issue that was coupled with the sunset elimination of DROP, was a change to the county code permitting employees of the Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) who are contributing to the Uniformed Retirement System (URS) to vote in the elections of the 2 trustee positions on the URS Board. The last trustee election, DPSC members participating in the URS Pension Plan were not permitted to vote because of the code. Thankfully, that issue has been resolved.
Lastly, the 3rd proposed amendment change that was approved by the BOS was redefining the term “actuarial surplus” requirement for consideration of an ad-hoc Cost of Living Adjustment (COLAs) for retirees of the Uniformed, Employees’, and Police Officers Retirement Systems. While the terminology of redefining how the ad-hoc COLA will be determined, retirees will continue receiving annual COLAs based-upon the Consumer Price Index-U not to exceed 4%.
In an effort to explain the redefining the term of actuarial surplus further, the passage of yesterday’s amendment to the code will allow the surplus for an ad-hoc COLA to be transparent and more in line with the on-going funding of each county retirement system. While the “new” definition of actuarial surplus is ambiguous to say the least, here’s how it is defined: Actuarial surplus is when the pension system’s actuarial value of assets exceeds the actuarial accrued liability as reported in the latest actuarial valuation report.
I would like to add; however, that both County Executive Tony Griffin and Retirement Agency Director Robert Mears, have stated that because of the economy and the funding ratio of the 3 county retirement systems, retirees mostly likely will not see an additional ad-hoc COLA for at least 3 to 5 years.
In Solidarity and Respectfully Submitted,
John R. Niemiec
President
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Charges Dropped Against Richard Singer
We had not heard anything about the charges that were filed against Richard Singer last November. Singer had additional charges filed against him in January of this year, after a third boy came forward with accusations.
Since we hadn't heard anything, we did a search on InsideNova.com, which first reported the charges. We discovered that on August 24th, InsideNova.com reported that all charges had been dropped. InsideNova.com reported that "prosecutors declared the charges nolle prosequi, meaning they do not wish to prosecute him at this time. The charges can be brought again later."
Several other media outlets in the DC area reported the arrest and charges, including The Big Eye. We felt that it was important to post the new developments.
Since we hadn't heard anything, we did a search on InsideNova.com, which first reported the charges. We discovered that on August 24th, InsideNova.com reported that all charges had been dropped. InsideNova.com reported that "prosecutors declared the charges nolle prosequi, meaning they do not wish to prosecute him at this time. The charges can be brought again later."
Several other media outlets in the DC area reported the arrest and charges, including The Big Eye. We felt that it was important to post the new developments.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Mom, 2 children die in Lorton fire
Three Other Children and One Adult Taken To Washington Hospital Center Burn Unit
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue units responded to a townhouse fire in the 9600 block of Hagel Circle, finding heavy fire coming out of every window of the home, according to Willie Bailey. Firefighters went through windows and pulled out one child, and located another child and adult inside. The four victims who were flown to the burn center were said to have escaped prior to the arrival of firefighters.
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue units responded to a townhouse fire in the 9600 block of Hagel Circle, finding heavy fire coming out of every window of the home, according to Willie Bailey. Firefighters went through windows and pulled out one child, and located another child and adult inside. The four victims who were flown to the burn center were said to have escaped prior to the arrival of firefighters.
Monday, September 20, 2010
New Bus Mirrors and Red R414?
We got this from a reader - keep your tips and editorials coming!
I hear drivers really really really hate the awful bus mirrors that are being put on all the new fire trucks. I heard that the new volunteer engine 421 will not have bus mirrors because they hate them! Is this the start of the anti bus mirror campaign........ anyway its interesting that the county top brass in the fire circle are pushing them and then an engine gets spec'd without them (granted this is a volunteer company).
Also is it true that 414 is slated to get a new heavy rescue soon? I saw it this past summer on a trip through the area and it looked like the old Rescue 426 (was definitely a reserve) and was red (I thought their squad and vehicles were all yellow... well the tech rescue trailer is red).....
What do you think?
I hear drivers really really really hate the awful bus mirrors that are being put on all the new fire trucks. I heard that the new volunteer engine 421 will not have bus mirrors because they hate them! Is this the start of the anti bus mirror campaign........ anyway its interesting that the county top brass in the fire circle are pushing them and then an engine gets spec'd without them (granted this is a volunteer company).
Also is it true that 414 is slated to get a new heavy rescue soon? I saw it this past summer on a trip through the area and it looked like the old Rescue 426 (was definitely a reserve) and was red (I thought their squad and vehicles were all yellow... well the tech rescue trailer is red).....
What do you think?
Friday, September 17, 2010
President Niemiec Addresses The Mosque Issue
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Local 2068:
I wanted to take this opportunity to update the membership about an issue
that was brought to my attention at the General Membership Meeting on
September 1, 2010. This issue revolved around a concern that several of our
members were forced to participate in an Islamic religious ceremony against
their will. While the member who brought this issue up at General
Membership meeting admitted that they did not have all the facts as it
related to the issue, rumors include that a female member felt unsafe and
frightened and was asked to leave her crew, even while vehemently objecting,
members were forced to pray and worship with members of the mosque and every
member of the Fire and Rescue Department was extremely uncomfortable being
there.
The concerns of this local after hearing all of this were - What are the
facts? Were any of our members' personal values or principles violated? Were
our members placed in any uncomfortable or unsafe situations?
First and foremost, this local is not going to respond to rumors without
having the full story. That is the reason why I have not communicated to
the membership about this earlier. After speaking with several of the
members who attended the ceremony in question, including Supervisor Gross
and Chief Mastin, these are the facts that have come to light:
Last month, FRD personnel from fire stations 410 and 428 were invited to a
religious ceremony at an Islamic Mosque, located in 428's first due, with
Supervisor Penny Gross and Fire Chief Ron Mastin. The invitation was both
as a "community outreach" effort and to participate in the commencement of
an Islamic holiday.
Additionally, I spoke with the female firefighter, who is a member of our
organization, and she stated that she never felt unsafe and was never placed
in a situation where she felt uncomfortable. While she admitted that she
did go with the other women of the mosque's congregation - she states that
she voluntarily placed the traditional head-dress on her head. The female
firefighter and I engaged in a conversation were she stated very animately,
"This whole situation has been blown out of proportion!" Prior to ending
our conversation I asked if there was anything that I or this union can do
for her or is there any resolve that she was requesting - she responded
"No".
A few days after talking to the female firefighter, I followed up with
another member who attended the ceremony at the mosque. He too stated to me
that this situation was blown out of proportion and the rumors that are
"flying-around" are false and exaggerated, adding, "No one felt uneasy, no
one was forced to take their shoes off, and no one was forced to participate
in worship or the dinner gathering."
Lastly, I contacted one of the unit officers who attended the event, to
obtain additional information and facts. He too stated that this whole
situation was blown out of proportion and the ones who are complaining or
who started these rumors were not there. He went on to say, "There are no
issues and no resolve or follow-up is needed."
Brothers and Sisters, if a member who attended the Islamic ceremony has
something to add or would like to bring an issue or concern forward, I
invite you to do so. You can contact your Battalion representative, Colin
Flanigan, at cflanigan@fairfaxfirefighters.org or can contact me directly at
571-221-1069. While I am sensitive to this issue and the Remembrance of
9/11, if there is, or was, a violation of our members' rights or if one of
our members felt uncomfortable - then we as a union will resolve it.
However, if there are no issues and the evidence lends that there were no
violations, then I say we need to put this to rest and move on!
Respectfully Submitted and In Solidarity,
John Niemiec
President
I wanted to take this opportunity to update the membership about an issue
that was brought to my attention at the General Membership Meeting on
September 1, 2010. This issue revolved around a concern that several of our
members were forced to participate in an Islamic religious ceremony against
their will. While the member who brought this issue up at General
Membership meeting admitted that they did not have all the facts as it
related to the issue, rumors include that a female member felt unsafe and
frightened and was asked to leave her crew, even while vehemently objecting,
members were forced to pray and worship with members of the mosque and every
member of the Fire and Rescue Department was extremely uncomfortable being
there.
The concerns of this local after hearing all of this were - What are the
facts? Were any of our members' personal values or principles violated? Were
our members placed in any uncomfortable or unsafe situations?
First and foremost, this local is not going to respond to rumors without
having the full story. That is the reason why I have not communicated to
the membership about this earlier. After speaking with several of the
members who attended the ceremony in question, including Supervisor Gross
and Chief Mastin, these are the facts that have come to light:
Last month, FRD personnel from fire stations 410 and 428 were invited to a
religious ceremony at an Islamic Mosque, located in 428's first due, with
Supervisor Penny Gross and Fire Chief Ron Mastin. The invitation was both
as a "community outreach" effort and to participate in the commencement of
an Islamic holiday.
Additionally, I spoke with the female firefighter, who is a member of our
organization, and she stated that she never felt unsafe and was never placed
in a situation where she felt uncomfortable. While she admitted that she
did go with the other women of the mosque's congregation - she states that
she voluntarily placed the traditional head-dress on her head. The female
firefighter and I engaged in a conversation were she stated very animately,
"This whole situation has been blown out of proportion!" Prior to ending
our conversation I asked if there was anything that I or this union can do
for her or is there any resolve that she was requesting - she responded
"No".
A few days after talking to the female firefighter, I followed up with
another member who attended the ceremony at the mosque. He too stated to me
that this situation was blown out of proportion and the rumors that are
"flying-around" are false and exaggerated, adding, "No one felt uneasy, no
one was forced to take their shoes off, and no one was forced to participate
in worship or the dinner gathering."
Lastly, I contacted one of the unit officers who attended the event, to
obtain additional information and facts. He too stated that this whole
situation was blown out of proportion and the ones who are complaining or
who started these rumors were not there. He went on to say, "There are no
issues and no resolve or follow-up is needed."
Brothers and Sisters, if a member who attended the Islamic ceremony has
something to add or would like to bring an issue or concern forward, I
invite you to do so. You can contact your Battalion representative, Colin
Flanigan, at cflanigan@fairfaxfirefighters.org or can contact me directly at
571-221-1069. While I am sensitive to this issue and the Remembrance of
9/11, if there is, or was, a violation of our members' rights or if one of
our members felt uncomfortable - then we as a union will resolve it.
However, if there are no issues and the evidence lends that there were no
violations, then I say we need to put this to rest and move on!
Respectfully Submitted and In Solidarity,
John Niemiec
President
Thursday, September 16, 2010
More On The Mosque Controversey
Submitted By Len Murry via email:
I am unable to post on the site. I am horrified and saddened if this really happened. This would have to be the lowest point of the the department's history and show a complete capitulation to the terrorists. Early in my career as a battalion chief, I had to deny a member from attending a Christian Church service. If this happened, I am now ashamed to be associated with this department. This is political correctness gone wild and certainly no leadership within the fire department or the county government. You are welcome to post my comment on the site.
Len Murry
Fire Media Solutions
703-901-4220
--------------------------------------------------------------
Len -
Thanks for the submission. We are confident that many of the details we have received about this issue are true. We know that this issue was discussed at the last union meeting. We have repeatedly asked for clarifications and more information. Leigh Boswell was kind enough to confirm that she had also received a phone call about the situation. We find it very unusual that the Fire Chief referred her to a member of the BOS.
During the last 14 months, this site has been very effective at identifying existing rumors that were in the field. In several cases, people involved were able to either completely, or partially put the rumor to rest by posting facts on our site. For some reason, no one wants to talk about this, with the exception of one person inviting us to meet him in the parking lot at 0700 (presumably for an old fashioned ass kicking). We would have preferred to have had "the facts" presented, and are still waiting for those facts.
Brother Big Eye
I am unable to post on the site. I am horrified and saddened if this really happened. This would have to be the lowest point of the the department's history and show a complete capitulation to the terrorists. Early in my career as a battalion chief, I had to deny a member from attending a Christian Church service. If this happened, I am now ashamed to be associated with this department. This is political correctness gone wild and certainly no leadership within the fire department or the county government. You are welcome to post my comment on the site.
Len Murry
Fire Media Solutions
703-901-4220
--------------------------------------------------------------
Len -
Thanks for the submission. We are confident that many of the details we have received about this issue are true. We know that this issue was discussed at the last union meeting. We have repeatedly asked for clarifications and more information. Leigh Boswell was kind enough to confirm that she had also received a phone call about the situation. We find it very unusual that the Fire Chief referred her to a member of the BOS.
During the last 14 months, this site has been very effective at identifying existing rumors that were in the field. In several cases, people involved were able to either completely, or partially put the rumor to rest by posting facts on our site. For some reason, no one wants to talk about this, with the exception of one person inviting us to meet him in the parking lot at 0700 (presumably for an old fashioned ass kicking). We would have preferred to have had "the facts" presented, and are still waiting for those facts.
Brother Big Eye
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
10-A and 28-A Ordered to Attend Services at a Mosque?
Has anyone heard anything about station 10 & 28 on A-Shift being ordered to attend services at a mosque? Mastin is said to have attended and along with one of the Supervisors. And the ladies had to wear head coverings and be separated from the men.
We find this hard to believe, but would like to hear from anyone involved. We will reserve judgement until we get a few more details.
Brother Big Eye
We find this hard to believe, but would like to hear from anyone involved. We will reserve judgement until we get a few more details.
Brother Big Eye
Fairfax County: #1 Again In The Nation For MDA!
From FRD Press Release:
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department firefighters handily exceeded their goal of collecting $475,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the "Fill the Boot" campaign over the Labor Day weekend. Firefighters, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2068, and the Department of Public Safety Communications personnel collected more than $561,000, taking in more donations than any fire service organization in the country, surpassing the Houston Fire Department, last year's top collector.
----------------------------------------------
The Big Eye would like to congratulate everyone who made the effort to get out and collect for MDA. Kudo's to Local 2068's Joel Kobersteen and Local 2068 for their tireless efforts. We do have one suggestion though; Shouldn't some of the rank and file members be selected to appear on the Telethon, rather than the top brass? Just a thought....
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department firefighters handily exceeded their goal of collecting $475,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the "Fill the Boot" campaign over the Labor Day weekend. Firefighters, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2068, and the Department of Public Safety Communications personnel collected more than $561,000, taking in more donations than any fire service organization in the country, surpassing the Houston Fire Department, last year's top collector.
----------------------------------------------
The Big Eye would like to congratulate everyone who made the effort to get out and collect for MDA. Kudo's to Local 2068's Joel Kobersteen and Local 2068 for their tireless efforts. We do have one suggestion though; Shouldn't some of the rank and file members be selected to appear on the Telethon, rather than the top brass? Just a thought....
Keith D. Morrison Selected For EMS Deputy Chief
Ok folks - everyone complained about the prior EMS Deputy. Now we have a new one. Chief Morrison is very well-liked in the department - will he turn things around for the better?
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